The warehouse sweep continued methodically.
No rushed movements.
No unnecessary noise.
Lin Mo remained on the upper scaffolding, observing but not interfering.
Zhao Ren allowed it.
Independent operators could become future assets or future threats.
Information first. Judgment later.
Inside the warehouse, rows of sealed crates lined the interior walls.
Chen Wei examined the labels.
"Portable generators," he said quietly.
"Industrial batteries."
That changed things.
Power meant refrigeration.
Lighting.
Communication attempts.
Control.
Zhao Ren scanned the upper levels again.
Threat Detection remained steady.
No hidden aggression.
"Inventory everything," Zhao Ren said.
"Transport in small batches."
"No large convoys."
Visibility invited pressure.
Controlled movement maintained advantage.
By midday, two generators had been secured and moved back toward the western zone.
The process was quiet and disciplined.
No signals.
No loud coordination.
Zhao Ren remained near the perimeter of the industrial block.
He opened his status panel briefly.
Grave Sovereign: 42 / 100 Unique Absorptions.
Progress was steady.
But he needed more variety.
Industrial districts would contain different variant types.
Possibly environmental mutations.
That would accelerate diversity.
A faint system prompt appeared.
Interesting.
Environmental zones often meant specialized enemies.
Different traits.
Different absorption potential.
Chen Wei approached again.
"Next building?" he asked.
Zhao Ren pointed toward Sector 3.
"We clear that."
"High risk?" Chen Wei asked.
"Moderate," Zhao Ren replied.
"But higher long-term gain."
Chen Wei didn't hesitate.
"Then we move."
Factory Sector 3 felt different the moment they approached.
The air was warmer.
Subtle vibration underfoot.
Steam drifting from cracked pipes.
Threat Detection pulsed stronger.
Multiple presences.
Clustered.
Zhao Ren raised his hand, signaling halt.
He adjusted strategy immediately.
"Two stay outside."
"Three flank east corridor."
"No engagement until signal."
The team moved precisely.
Inside the factory floor, shapes moved slowly among machinery.
Not standard variants.
Their posture was heavier.
More stable.
System panel identified them.
Excellent.
New category.
Zhao Ren stepped forward calmly.
He did not rush.
He observed movement patterns first.
Slow acceleration.
Strong defense.
Low agility.
He chose positioning carefully.
A brief, controlled engagement followed.
No chaos.
No overextension.
The variant fell.
Zhao Ren placed his hand on it.
Good.
Different trait confirmed.
He absorbed two more variants within the next fifteen minutes.
No injuries sustained.
No alarms triggered.
The team operated efficiently.
When the factory floor was cleared, Zhao Ren paused.
Threat Detection pulsed again.
Not from monsters.
From outside.
Two signatures.
Approaching.
Familiar pattern.
Eastern side.
Han Qian's scouts.
They were probing industrial territory.
Chen Wei stepped closer.
"They're testing boundaries."
"Yes," Zhao Ren replied calmly.
"Not yet aggressive."
"Information gathering."
Both sides were expanding simultaneously.
Conflict was inevitable.
But not today.
Zhao Ren looked toward the bridge direction.
Forty-four hours remained.
The Phase 2 marker would force exposure.
Before that
Resource consolidation mattered most.
He turned back toward Sector 3 interior.
"Secure equipment," he said.
"We return before dusk."
Control.
Consistency.
No sudden escalation.
The city was dividing into spheres.
West: stability and measured expansion.
East: structured adaptation.
Independent: silent observers.
And above all
The system continued tightening.
Grave Sovereign progress: 45 / 100.
Halfway was approaching.
And when evolution triggered
The balance would shift again.